By: John Cupps (BuckeyeCountry.net) -

Going into today’s Big Ten Conference match-up with Wisconsin, the Michigan Wolverines had to win at least one of their last two games to be eligible for a bowl game. Now after the Badgers 45-24 thumping today, Michigan MUST defeat Ohio State next Saturday in Ann Arbor’s Big House.

After only having two wins last year, Michigan started the 2009 season picking up four straight wins and fans began to wonder if Rich Rodriguez and the Maze and Blue were gonna be a powerhouse. Wonder no more. The Wolverines have now lost their last four games, being outscored 156 -83, heading into what was once one of the biggest college football rivalries in the nation. Lately the Buckeyes have dominated Michigan and the rivalry is all but dead.

Michigan would love nothing more but come out victorious over Ohio State for several reasons, among them:

• Rodriguez and the Wolverines become bowl eligible, unlike last year when Michigan missed playing in a bowl game for the first time in over 30 years.
• Michigan would snap the Buckeyes five game winning streak over the Wolverines. The last time Michigan beat Ohio State was 2,184 days ago today.
• The Wolverines have lost six straight Big Ten games for the first time since 1958-59 and they don’t want to make it seven.

Ohio State defeated Iowa 27-24 in overtime today in the Buckeyes final home game of the season. Last week’s 24-7 OSU victory over Penn State and Northwestern’s surprising upset of undefeated Iowa set up the Big Ten showdown today between the Buckeyes and the Hawkeyes. OSU will likely get a BCS bid to the Rose Bowl.

No related posts.